When I first thought to do my own blog, I decided I should write in it all those things that suddently occur to me and I never get the chance to discuss or expose because the appropiate forum isn't at hand. Usually on fridays (probably due to tiredness), I feel specially philosophical and this place allows me to give all this an escape valve.
First and foremost, I would like to apologize to anyone who might feel offended by my words as my only intention is to offer my thoughts which, because of my social upbringing, obviously lack the experience that may otherwise make me view things with a different eyeglass. I do not wish to offend anyone nor any collective opinion.
Today I want to discuss a matter that has been in my mind for some time: war. Meaning war as a concept, not war in Irak, nor any other real example of war, but war in general and concepts arising from it and so on.
I am currently reading the second book of the Legends of Dune by Brian Herbert (son of the original creator of the Dune saga, Frank Herbert) and Kevin J. Anderson. This trilogy of books (comprising "the butlerian Jihad", "The machine crusade" and "The battle of Corrin") tell the epic story of the struggle between humankind in the galaxy and a society of inteligent machines born from the hand of man himself. The firs question that arises to me is why are we still so fascinated by stories of wars, fightings and death? It must be something in our own nature.
On one side are those people close to those fallen in combat who wish to give meaning to something that cannot have meaning for them. Have all those who fight suffered direct greviance from the enemy they are fighting? In such case, why do both sides lift memorials to their fallen warriors? Are we not all taught that our own side was the right one? Which one is true?
On the other side is the blade of the political weapon represented by these memorials, that attempt to remain timeless and justify something that may have had its sense in its time... or not... In Spain we all know the greatest monument to fascism (and I use the term as a political thought designation): El valle de los caídos (The valley of the fallen, built in the time of Francisco Franco, the fascist dictator, by the hands of a large number of political prisoners, many of which died in the process). It's own name indicates it should be a memorial built in honour of fallen warriors in a fight for high morals that justified the sacrifice of those who died. We only have to set out in the streets of Madrid and ask anyone about it. The opinions are as opposed as they are passioate in both senses.
However, what I ask myself is the real need for these deaths and others occurred in war times, as I also question the moral validity of these monuments. Do they give meaning to the deaths? In my humble opinion, they don't. Did ever a loved one of one of these fallen ones (wether warrior or innocent bystander) think "Thank God! I feel so comforted now they have built this huge thing as a memorial to my loved one. I feel so much better!". I may be naive, but however big the monument was, I wouldn't feel comforted for the loss of someone close to me. Further, I would feel more offended the bigger the monument was.
One could even say these memorials can justify new war actions against those who offended us and who tainted our memory by "murdering" our loved ones (If you are on the side that started the conflict, does that mean you cannot lift memorials?), reminding us of the offense and who fought to defend us. If we remember that many of these monuments are lifted for political reasons, doesn't that rather remind us of the futility of their deaths?
Going back to the stories by the Herbert family, and thinking also of those written by George Orwell in his famous novels 1984 and Animal farm, human beings can find means to justify the most inhuman actions with the highest moral values that define us as beings above animals. This contradiction in terms can be seen every day in the news.
I will refer to present day situations. I frequently see in the news (which is why I decide every day I will watch the news no more....) that jews have launched a new offense that ended with the lives of X people murdered (reducing people to a mere number... How horrifying!!!). Still now a days we are shown feature films (such as Schindler's list, etc) which reminds us how millions of jews were massacred for reasons that, for the murdering side, were justified!! Y GODD!! HOW CAN THEY JUSTIFY TO KILL SO MANY?!?!? Err... I actually think the very same thought every time a bomb explodes in Palestina!
Isn't there any other way to resolve the conflict?
(On a more national point of view) How is it possible that a political party can critisize another because they are TALKING in order to solve an armed conflict? If we want the problem with E.T.A. to be resolved is there really any other way?. Didn't the irish only ever get to solve their problems when they put their weapons aside and sat down to talk about it?
So, as Glen's picture says, whenever you find yourselves in front of a memorial that remembers those fallen in an act of war, and I include those fallen victims of terrorist acts, which are the SAME kind of victims as honorable warrior killed in action, do yourselves and humankind a favour: stop and think of them and how they died...
... for you...
... even if you never asked them to die for you...
... even if they died for something you think is a just cause...
... because their lives ended in a day such as today, in a moment such as right now, in a life very much like your own... Was it really worth it? Did it give them honour? Woudln't have they prefered to live a little longer? Who decided they should die for you?
4 comments:
Thanks for featuring my photo Mark.
I wish the inscription had gone on to read "AND ASK YOURSELF WHY".
This was an interesting read. :)
Thank you, Glen. You're absolutely right about the inscription
Ok, I came here from Pinksters pic coz I really like your comment, and I absolutely agree that these deaths, while they should be remembered, should also be recognised for the needless, unecessary killings they were.
I'm commenting as I read because otherwise I'll forget my points about stuff you wrote earlier.
Firstly, I think that people are fascinated with stories of war, but people are also fascinated with stories about love, murder mysteries, travel; I think people are intrigued with human nature and what people do in the name of various emotions.
If people did not want their loved ones to remembered in death, there would be no graveyards, no tombstones, no inscriptions on slabs of granite saying 'beloved wife and mother'. People DO want their loved ones remembered, even more so if the deaths were in vain, because people need to learn from that. People need to remember how many people died for such a pointless endeavour, so that it doesn't happen again. Isn't this the point of our memorial days?
I don't know about the political uses of memorials, I don't tend to care much, I just remember the many deaths as a black mark on our history - well several black marks - that shouldn't be repeated. I think that, and then see the news and think, well hey, that looks familiar... I guess people never learn, regardless of the reminders put up for them.
I really enjoyed reading this, I hope you take my comments as they were intended, which is just friendly discussion rather than criticism. I think you made some very good points, and thank you for making them. Thank you for making me think :) Sam x (if you want to respons come to http://dragondrops3k6.deviantart.com/ and post :D)
Hi, Sam
First and foremost, thank you for visiting and for your thoughts. They are much appreciated!
Now, for the replies.
When I said fascinated about war stories, what I meant that, as a general rule, when you take all types of stories (in whatever form, be it a book, film or fire-camp story, storytellers, etc.) epic stories with wars, adventures with fights, action stories with confrontations, tension, etc. seem to top the chart so much more than any other type of story. I should have expressed it differently, sorry.
Again, with the loved ones, I didn't they didn't want them to be remembered. Obviously, yes, they want them remembered, but not necessarily for being murdered in a war that wasn't their decision. You're absolutely right about memorial days, too, of course. But often, the reason for the memorial is lost amongst other political issues and stuff... as they did over here, in Spain with the March 11th bombing. Horrible stuff...
I was precisely centering on the political usage of the dead, which is what specially sickens me, apart from the stupidity of war, of course.
Again, thanks for visiting, Sam. People visiting like you are who give meaning to my blog!
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